Systems and methods for formulating or evaluating a construction admixture

Abstract

Example embodiments provide systems and methods for formulating and evaluating a construction admixture (such as an admixture for concrete, asphalt, mortar, etc.). According to exemplary embodiments, a predictive model, artificial intelligence, machine learning algorithm, etc., may be trained using historical performance data and current deployment information. Based on a job specification that identifies various requirements for the construction composition and a set of available inputs (e.g., raw materials, mixing techniques, etc.), the model, AI, or algorithm, may output one or more construction admixtures that meet or best approximate the requirements. The construction admixtures may be provided to a simulation to estimate or predict their performance. The performance characteristics of the output construction admixture(s) may be displayed. Optionally, the system may control mixing machinery to produce the construction admixture. Some embodiments may use these capabilities to evaluate an existing or proposed construction admixture, rather than proposing a new construction admixture.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present application relates to improvements in the production of construction and engineering mixtures such as asphalt, concrete, mortar, and the like.BACKGROUND[0002]Certain materials used in construction and engineering are compositions of raw materials that are blended together to achieve desired properties. Typically, a construction composition includes a construction mixture made up of construction mixture raw materials. Such a construction mixture may be produced at a plant and includes all the materials of the composition except a construction admixture, which represents a chemical additive used in the production of a combined construction composition. The construction admixture is made up of construction admixture raw materials.[0003]Although a layman may refer to a construction composition in the abstract (e.g. “concrete”), in practice there are many different ways to formulate such a construction composition. For instance, the type and amoun...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a computer-implemented method and apparatus for predicting the performance of a construction composition by using machine learning algorithms. The method involves receiving a job specification for the composition, accessing a set of inputs that affect the composition, and determining the performance requirements of the job specification. The method then uses the predictive model to determine the optimal combination of components that meet the performance requirements. The apparatus includes a computer-readable storage medium and a hardware interface for receiving training data and a hardware processor for training the machine learning algorithm. The technical effects of the invention include improving the efficiency and accuracy of predicting the performance of construction compositions, and optimizing the use of construction admixtures to achieve desired performance requirements.

Problems solved by technology

It is often impractical to produce all of the required construction composition for a large job at a single location (e.g., a single concrete plant).

Different construction mixture raw materials having different properties (e.g., larger or smaller aggregate sizes) may be available at the different plants, resulting in less consistency between the construction compositions being deployed at the construction site.

However, it is not acceptable for any of the construction compositions to fail to meet specified engineering requirements.

If a certain minimum compressive or tensile strength is called for, the plants producing the construction composition cannot choose a combination of raw materials and / or techniques that results in less than the required strength.

If they did, the structure being constructed could fail.

Because of these considerations, construction compositions produced today tend to be over-engineered.

This costs the producer (and, in turn, the contractors, developers, and end-users of the constructed structures) money and time, and unnecessarily wastes raw materials.

Industry experts estimate that 80% of concrete mixtures produced today suffer from this problem.

Unfortunately, even the most advanced experts cannot take into account the wide variety of available inputs, rapidly-changing conditions at the plant and the construction site, and other factors that might affect the performance of the construction mixture.

Accordingly, these construction compositions continue to be unnecessarily over-engineered.

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